"Are You Tied Up in Nots?"

They were common folk, not out of the ordinary in any way.  Yet we are still reading about them 2000 years later.  What did they Do?  Win an Oscar, or an Emmy, maybe a Grammy award, or win the Super bowl.  What did they do to make their stories so special? 

There are far to many to name but remember the Boy with five loaves and two fish?   There were probably others in the crowd who had a similar lunch but we only read of this little boy, why?  Because of what he did with it - he brought it to Jesus!

Remember the woman Woman with the jar of costly perfume? She was not the only woman in town with expensive perfume but we read about her, Why? Because of what she chose to do with it.  She anointed Jesus with it!

There is another story less familiar found in Matthew 21:1-3 .  The more you think about it the more fascinating it becomes.  

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.  (Matthew 21:1-3 ESV)

In this passage Jesus is preparing for his entrance into Jerusalem so he sends his disciple into town to arrange a ride.  He tells them go into the village and there they will find a donkey and colt tied. When they find them they are to loose them and bring them to Him. 

I Think it goes without saying that these animals no doubt belonged to someone.    Imagine they belonged to you?  See some strange men come and start untying your donkey you are going to go ask some questions.  Excuse me, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

Jesus anticipated this, and tells the disciples If they ask WHAT ARE YOU DOING? say this...  the Lord has need of them and they will let you take them.    WOW

The Lord has need of them.  Now that begs us to ask a question.  If those had been my donkeys would that answer have been sufficient for me?  Hey that’s my donkey, my colt, I have need of them.   But that is not what transpires..  

So what can we learn from this to apply to us today?  What do I have that the Lord wants to use?  What’s the name of the donkey tied up in my back yard?   WE would call them Spiritual gifts, talents, time, money, home, car, etc.  What is in your hand?  

The problem with many people is they want the Lord to have the donkey.  They want to serve God with their talents, gifts, money and possessions etc.  The problem is their donkey is tied with to many knots.  

Knot today, knot right now, knot for that long, knot with them, knot that often, knot here,  knot, knot, knot.  

How many knots is your donkey tied up with?  For some it would take a boy scout troupe 3 weeks to get all the knots out.    The Problem with knots is that by the time we get them untied the opportunity is gone.   Do you want to be ready to be used by God - get the knots out.   Only one not should be attached to your donkey. “Not my will but thine be done.”   

So when a servant of God comes along and says the Lord has need of your donkey, all they need to do is loose it and bring it to Jesus.  How can you be sure there are no knots?   Make sure you tie up the donkey!

If your children, coach, boss, culture, success, money, or comfort, get their hands on the rope tied to your donkey, (gifts, talents, etc.)    you’ll never get it untangled until it’s too late to be of any value. 

What’s tied up in your backyard the Lord has need of?.  

Here is a wonderful story to illustrate this simple principle.  "A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was 'too crowded.' 'I can't go to Sunday School,' she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus.

Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.  As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: 'This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.' For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. But the story does not end there...

A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.  Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.  When you are in the city of Philadelphia , look up Temple Baptist Church , with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where thousands of students are educated.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history.

Goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

The little girls donkey was 57cents.  She knew the Lord has need of it and untied it and let it go. Look what He did!

What’s tied up in our lives God wants to use?   Get the nots out and watch what he will do with it.